DRIFTON — The Buster’s fastpitch softball team was the Alpha and the Omega at the 2011 ASA Class C-1 Fastpitch Softball State Championships played over the weekend at the Drifton Softball Complex. They were the first team to play and the last team standing when the grueling 17-team double-elimination tournament ended Sunday night.
With the 10-2 blasting of Willow Street in the championship game, it is believed that Buster’s is the first Old Town Softball League-based team to claim the Class C title. Many have tried and many have failed. After over a decade of trying, and placing four times in the past, with the highest being a runner-up finish in 2006, the Buster’s squad put together by player-manager Brian Barr finally reached their ultimate team goal.
After having to play a pig-tail game, having the number two pitcher pull off a disappearing act, and only having 12 players on the roster it appeared as though the odds were stacked against Buster’s pulling off the championship – WRONG!
After playing nearly flawless defense – two errors in six games; getting timely hitting – there were countless numbers of two-strike base hits and hits from the bottom of the batting order, receiving gutsy pitching performances – three games by one pitcher in one day, and playing from behind – Buster’s was losing in four of the six games they played, Buster’s proved that they were the best team at the tournament.
The final was almost anti-climactic in that it ended by the 7-run Mercy Rule instead of by a nail-biter.
Being the “visiting” team for the fifth time in six games, the finals had a different feel to it after Buster’s started the game with a 4-run outburst in the top of the first inning.
Brent “Bomber” Thomas led off the game with his signature single and, as was customary all tournament, Buster’s played small ball as Brandon Billotte sacrificed him to second. What followed pretty much determined the outcome. Chris Peacock had an RBI single, Steve Terry doubled, Todd Stiner doubled in two runs, Thomas Yeager had an RBI single to plate the fourth run of the inning, then Rich “Super Stew” Stewart lined one off the pitcher’s foot and Willow Steet had to make the call to the bullpen as their starting picher had a date with an icepack for the next five innings. Willow did survive the inning as Buster’s left the bases juiced.
Willow showed that they would not lay down as a team. In the game to make it to the finals they were down six runs to a young Mennonite squad, only to win 10-9. They promptly loaded the bases in the home half of the first, only to be denied when Bob Culp registered a backwards “K” to end the inning.
The Buster’s bats then fell silent, but only for an inning as they plated two runs in the third and sixth innings, surrounding singletons in the fourth and fifth. Buster’s pounded out 17 hits in the final game – led by “Bomber’s” four for five effort. Peacock added three hits to his impressive weekend – 15 hits in six games! – while Thomas Yeager had three hits, including a double and two RBIs out of the seven hole.
Culp picked up the complete game victory – his fourth such effort of the tournament.
To reach the final game, Buster’s went 4-0 on Saturday then beat Willow Street 10-3 in the winner’s bracket final Sunday morning and waited for the loser’s bracket to come to them. A different feel for a Buster’s team that didn’t have to do “the chasing” to get to the ultimate game.
It wasn’t an easy march to the finals as Buster’s fell behind in four straight games leading to the last game.
Bill Kozlovac picked up the pigtail win against Yuengling 4-1. After that the games seemed to follow the same theme – fall behind and hit to win.
After falling behind The Pub 4-2, Buster’s plated seven runs in the third and fourth innings to win 10-6.
Then falling behind 1-0 and heading to the sixth inning knotted 1-1 against Bower’s Lab, Buster’s scored two in the sixth on a clutch two-out single by Andy Squires, and added another on a Peacock homerun in the seventh to win 4-1.
The fourth and final game Saturday saw more of the same. In a back-and-forth battle with Eagle AA, Buster’s was behind 4-3 heading into the late innings. Buster’s was able to outscore AA 4-1 the rest of the way to advance to the winner’s bracket final 7-5. A two-out bases loaded walk in the seventh to “Super Stew” iced the victory.
The only thing that changed in Sunday morning’s game was that Buster’s actually won the pre-game toss, their only win of the tourney. Quickly falling behind 2-0, Buster’s answered with a Peacock homerun in the bottom of the opening frame to start the pendulum swinging back in the home team’s favor. Veteran hurler Kozlovac only allowed one run the rest of the way as Buster’s won 10-3 in six innings to reach their first championship game with no blemishes on their record.
After a four-run second inning highlighted by “Bomber’s” two-run homer, Buster’s held a precarious 6-3 lead into the fifth inning. There, Cory Bookhamer had a big two-out two-run single and was plated by Thomas Yeager’s blasted triple. An RBI single by Peacock in the sixth inning induced the 7-run Mercy Rule 10-3.
Buster’s next adventure will be the Eastern Nationals in Canton, OH over Labor Day weekend.
Game Summaries:
Championship Game
Buster’s 402 112 x 10 17 0 WP – Bob Culp (4-0), 6 IP, 2 R, 2 ER, 4K.
Willow Street 000 200 x 2 7 0
4 hits – Brent Thomas, 3 hits – Chris Peacock, Thomas Yeager.
Pigtail Game
Yuengling 000 100 0 1 6 0
Buster’s 002 110 x 4 9 0 WP – Bill Kozlovac (1-0), 7 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 3K.
First Round Game
Buster’s 114 301 0 10 14 1 WP – Bob Culp (1-0) 7 IP, 6 R, 5 ER, 7 K.
The Pub 040 200 0 6 9 1
4 hits – Brandon Billotte, 3 hits – Todd Stiner.
Quarterfinals
Buster’s 001 102 0 4 4 0 WP – Bob Culp (2-0) 7 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 K.
Bower’s Lab 001 000 0 1 5 0
Semifinals
Buster’s 003 030 1 7 11 0 WP – Bob Culp (3-0) 7 IP, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 K.
Eagle AA 112 010 0 5 8 0
4 hits – Chris Peacock, 3 hits – Thomas Yeager
Finals
Willow Street 201 000 x 3 6 1
Buster’s 141 031 x 10 12 0 WP – Bill Kozlovac (2-0) 6 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 K.